‘The Richard Juhlin 100 point scale’

My subjective grading of individual wines builds on serious tastings of more than 12,000 different champagnes and is the most extensive evaluation of champagne ever carried out. The wines in question receive two grades: one for present quality, and one for the quality of the wine when it is at its best. Guides commonly also give an indication of when the wine will be at its best, but since champagne’s age of maturity is so much a matter of opinion and taste, I have refrained from making any such judgement. If the differences between the two grades (present and potential tasting quality) are very marked, then the wine obviously needs more time in the cellar. Individual consumers can then find out by experience what level of maturity best suits their personal preferences. I have chosen to use the Juhlin scale, which is a 100-point scale, since I find it important to have as broad a scale as possible.

A wine that gives no pleasure at all should, in my opinion, not receive a single point. This is why I start with zero points. It should be added, how–ever, that all champagne, unless it is actually defective, will be of a quality affording some drinking pleasure. 50 points is intended as an average score for non- vintage champagne. The average in this category in my book lies above this mid- point, because I have concentrated on the best known of the 2,454 producers. If I had had the opportunity of tasting all of them, I am convinced that the average would lie closer to the 50-point mark. 100 points is awarded to the perfect champagne. My points system is not divided into different sections for different characteristics, but is only meant to give an overall judgement of the wine’s qualities. For access to information on all the producers, for tasting notes with comprehensive descriptions, and to follow my daily tasting activities, you can become a member of my club by registering at www.champagneclub.com. I imagine that many of my readers who are accustomed to Robert Parker or Wine Spectator’s interesting but compressed hundred-point scale might reject wines under 80 points and turn up their noses or laugh at a 68-pointer.

Don’t! If such a champagne is non-vintage from the peripheries of the region, the winemaker might have done a very good job and the wine might be very nice if drunk in the right situation. Let me emphasise again that these are subjective assessments: wines are living products which vary a good deal from bottle to bottle. Finally, the most important factor of all is your own taste. My assessments are not universal truths.

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The Richard Juhlin 100 point scale

95-100 

World Class champagne

90-94 

Outstanding: a champagne of superior character and style

85-89 

Very good: a champagne with special qualities

80-84 

A really good champagne

70-79 

High quality for non-vintage wines, ordinary for Vintage wines 

60-69 

Good non-vintage level

50-60 

An ordinary non-vintage champagne

40-50 

Not recommended 

20-40 

To be avoided

0-20 

A disgrace for the district of Champagne

‘The Richard Juhlin 100 point scale’

Robert Parkers only 100 point champagne?

‘100 champagnes You should taste before You die’ by Richard Juhlin